Hooker Liam Coltman, though, could be a starter, after receiving some positive reports on his neck injury.
Coach Tony Brown and assistant coach Phil Young have been casting their eyes over club rugby in the past few weeks and have been impressed by what they have seen.
Brown said the standard of club rugby had been good, helped by the good weather.
"I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen. Most teams have been playing well. There is still a little bit of a gap between the top and bottom teams but those teams at the bottom are still playing well at times," Brown said.
They have a squad of between 35 and 40 players training four times a week, under trainer Karl Bloxham, and Brown said the days of getting together at the end of the club season were over.
"These are young guys who all want to play professional rugby so they have got to train every day."
Otago's first game in the ITM Cup is against Northland on August 25 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Under competition rules, the team can not gather together until four weeks before its first game, but Brown said the Otago squad would be named on July 5.
He said that would give the squad plenty of time to work on game plans and prepare properly for the season.
Three pre-season games had been arranged - against South Canterbury on August 1, Tasman on August 12, and Southland on August 17.
The match against Southland will be played in Balclutha while the other two games will be in Dunedin.
Brown was happy with three pre-season games and felt it would be enough to get the side ready for the ITM Cup.
Otago's financial struggles mean Brown is not in a position to bring any players in to fill gaps but that is not something worrying the coach.
"I always had the plan to pick local guys anyway. We can put all our coaching into them. That is what made Otago rugby strong - strong local guys mixing with some university students."
Brown said there was reasonable depth in most positions.
Former New Zealand Colts hooker Coltman had suffered a bulging disc in his neck in March and had looked doubtful for the season.
But he had received some positive medical advice and was hopeful of being able to play again this season.
Brown cautioned it was still early days for Coltman as he needed to strengthen his neck and arm and get fully fit for the season. It is doubtful whether he will play any club rugby.
With Japanese hooker Shota Horie in town and rakes Sam Anderson-Heather and Peter Mirrielees back from playing club rugby overseas, depth at hooker was strong.
Brown said he was not counting on experienced lock Donnelly being available for Otago this season.
Donnelly, who has played 73 games for Otago, said late last month he was weighing up his future, but with his way back into the All Blacks seemingly blocked, a move overseas looms as a distinct possibility. He has been linked with a move to Japan.
One player back from Japan is Justin Ives, who played with Brown at Panasonic.
Ives, a lock, who had previously played for Otago B, was picked for Japan at last year's World Cup, although a knee injury ruined his tournament.
Lock Rob Verbakel has just finished playing for Glasgow in the Celtic league and is due back shortly.
Midfield back Jayden Spence had undergone an operation on a groin and was expected back on the playing field later this month.
